TV-Series
Description
At the age of five, a young nobleman who would become known as the Duke was cursed by a powerful witch named Sade, causing any living thing he touches to die instantly. This tragic event forced him to leave his family's main residence and live in isolation in a decrepit mansion deep within a forest. As the firstborn son, he was originally expected to become the next head of his noble family, but the curse led his cold and distant mother to threaten to disown him if he could not find a cure by the coming spring.
The Duke is a gentle, kind, and forgiving young man who cares deeply for those around him, despite his circumstances. He is passionate but initially reserved and timid, a result of the trauma of being ostracized from his family and society. He struggles with feelings of self-consciousness and is prone to self-deprecating jokes, often calling himself a useless person. However, beneath this meek exterior lies a strong will, and he shows genuine anger and determination when protecting his friends or his maid, Alice Lendrott. He greatly respected his late grandfather, Victor, and honors his memory by always wearing a distinctive black silk hat, which also helps hide his curly hair which he is embarrassed about.
The Duke's primary motivation throughout the story is to break the curse that defines his existence. His greatest hope is to be freed from it so he can live a normal life, return to his family, and most importantly, be with Alice, whom he loves. He finds ways to express his love and devotion without physical contact, cherishing their emotional bond while searching for a solution to their predicament. He also worries about his future, cultivating hobbies like piano playing, composition, art, and writing stories as potential careers if his family disowns him.
His role in the story is that of the cursed protagonist, confined to his villa yet gradually venturing out to build a new life. Despite his deadly curse, he acts as an emotional anchor for those around him, creating a safe haven away from the harsh realities of the aristocratic and magical worlds. He is not a passive victim; he actively seeks ways to break the curse, traveling to town in a special bird-like costume that prevents accidental contact, and working with witches to find a cure. Over the course of the narrative, he develops from a gloomy and isolated young man into a more hopeful and confident individual as he makes new friends and becomes more proactive in using his abilities to defend them.
The Duke's most significant relationship is with Alice Lendrott, his maid and childhood friend. She was brought to the mansion by his butler, Rob, to help pull him out of his depression. Unlike everyone else, Alice shows no fear of his curse and boldly teases and flirts with him, which helps him cope with his loneliness. Their relationship is a deep, genuine romance defined by longing and emotional intimacy, despite the physical barrier between them. The Duke also shares a strong, trusting, father-like bond with his butler, Rob Gardner, who has cared for him since his exile. Rob often acts as a confidant and supporter of the Duke's relationship with Alice. The Duke's relationships with his younger sister Viola and brother Walter are initially strained due to his curse but slowly improve as the story progresses. A childhood friend named Philip, who became terrified of the Duke after the curse, eventually reconciles with him and attends his wedding.
The Duke possesses the deadly ability that is the source of his suffering: any living creature he makes direct skin contact with will die. This power is neutralized by thick clothing or barriers, though simple gloves are not enough to protect others. Aside from his curse, he is remarkably talented in the arts. He is an expert pianist who can also play the guitar and violin, and claims to know how to play almost any instrument. He composes his own music, which he sells to make a living after leaving his villa. He is also a skilled artist, capable of drawing and painting landscapes. As the series reaches its conclusion, the Duke's journey culminates in a confrontation with the witch who cursed him. After the curse is broken, he must race to stop Alice, who has left out of a misguided sense of guilt, ultimately proposing to her with a white rose and securing their happy future together.
The Duke is a gentle, kind, and forgiving young man who cares deeply for those around him, despite his circumstances. He is passionate but initially reserved and timid, a result of the trauma of being ostracized from his family and society. He struggles with feelings of self-consciousness and is prone to self-deprecating jokes, often calling himself a useless person. However, beneath this meek exterior lies a strong will, and he shows genuine anger and determination when protecting his friends or his maid, Alice Lendrott. He greatly respected his late grandfather, Victor, and honors his memory by always wearing a distinctive black silk hat, which also helps hide his curly hair which he is embarrassed about.
The Duke's primary motivation throughout the story is to break the curse that defines his existence. His greatest hope is to be freed from it so he can live a normal life, return to his family, and most importantly, be with Alice, whom he loves. He finds ways to express his love and devotion without physical contact, cherishing their emotional bond while searching for a solution to their predicament. He also worries about his future, cultivating hobbies like piano playing, composition, art, and writing stories as potential careers if his family disowns him.
His role in the story is that of the cursed protagonist, confined to his villa yet gradually venturing out to build a new life. Despite his deadly curse, he acts as an emotional anchor for those around him, creating a safe haven away from the harsh realities of the aristocratic and magical worlds. He is not a passive victim; he actively seeks ways to break the curse, traveling to town in a special bird-like costume that prevents accidental contact, and working with witches to find a cure. Over the course of the narrative, he develops from a gloomy and isolated young man into a more hopeful and confident individual as he makes new friends and becomes more proactive in using his abilities to defend them.
The Duke's most significant relationship is with Alice Lendrott, his maid and childhood friend. She was brought to the mansion by his butler, Rob, to help pull him out of his depression. Unlike everyone else, Alice shows no fear of his curse and boldly teases and flirts with him, which helps him cope with his loneliness. Their relationship is a deep, genuine romance defined by longing and emotional intimacy, despite the physical barrier between them. The Duke also shares a strong, trusting, father-like bond with his butler, Rob Gardner, who has cared for him since his exile. Rob often acts as a confidant and supporter of the Duke's relationship with Alice. The Duke's relationships with his younger sister Viola and brother Walter are initially strained due to his curse but slowly improve as the story progresses. A childhood friend named Philip, who became terrified of the Duke after the curse, eventually reconciles with him and attends his wedding.
The Duke possesses the deadly ability that is the source of his suffering: any living creature he makes direct skin contact with will die. This power is neutralized by thick clothing or barriers, though simple gloves are not enough to protect others. Aside from his curse, he is remarkably talented in the arts. He is an expert pianist who can also play the guitar and violin, and claims to know how to play almost any instrument. He composes his own music, which he sells to make a living after leaving his villa. He is also a skilled artist, capable of drawing and painting landscapes. As the series reaches its conclusion, the Duke's journey culminates in a confrontation with the witch who cursed him. After the curse is broken, he must race to stop Alice, who has left out of a misguided sense of guilt, ultimately proposing to her with a white rose and securing their happy future together.